Why this is the No.1 test of a successful home

Sydney Morning Herald

07-07-2025

If there is one thing Australia has in abundance, it's sunshine. Indeed, given our title as the skin cancer capital of the world, some would say we have a little too much. Over the years, we have probably spent as much time focusing on minimising its impact as we have enjoying it.
During winter, the tables turn. As the days grow shorter, we lose almost a third of the 14 hours of daylight that we enjoy in the summer months and, sometimes, experience a corresponding fall in mood.
With scientific evidence increasingly pointing to the detrimental effects artificial light can have on our sleep and mood, it makes sense to light our residential spaces naturally wherever possible. Melbourne-based architect Antony Martin says natural light is the No.1 element he looks for in a dwelling.
'My most important test of a successful house is when you walk in and there is never a light on during the day because there is well-balanced natural light,' he says.
More than a simple matter of illumination, Martin says natural light has properties that artificial sources struggle to emulate.
'Natural light levels are constantly varying,' he says. 'It is quite imperceptible to the naked eye, but it's very different to artificial light, which is constant throughout the day. There is an emotional attachment that comes with it. You may not be aware of it but the colour of it changes throughout the day.'
At its most basic, the sun appears higher in the sky in summer and lower in winter. For Australians, northern light is the most desirable because it is the most consistent and can be most effectively managed all year round by setting windows and eaves at appropriate levels. The least desirable summer aspect is to the west towards the setting sun which, as it appears lower in the sky, can heat up interiors to uncomfortable levels.
But Martin says it's not without its appeal.
'The interesting aspect for winter is western orientation which provides beautiful golden afternoon light, but it's the worst orientation for summer,' he says.